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LIV welcomes plan for lawyers to return to office
With COVID-19 creating large delays in the administration of justice, Victoria’s premier legal body has welcomed the Andrews’ government’s staged return to office plan.
Naomi Neilson
The limited return to office plans, announced by Premier Daniel Andrews, will allow the state’s lawyers to more effectively support their clients and the whole of the courts and justice system, said the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) president Sam Pandya.
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From 30 November, office-based workplaces can return to up to 25 per cent of staff in the workroom on any one day. To enable small firms to return to the office, businesses with less than 40 employees can have up to 10 staff on site, subject to a density quota.
Mr Pandya said the legal profession had long advocated a staged return to offices, in a bid to have lawyers better support their clients in the wider Victorian community.
“The fact is that not everything can be done effectively from home. Some of the issues dealt with by lawyers are extremely confidential and sensitive. It is not always practical to give clients legal advice and support over zoom,” Mr Pandya said.
He added that the LIV has been in regular contact with the Department of Justice and Community Safety to have restrictions eased for lawyers. The LIV has pushed for both a modest return to the workplace for larger CBD-based firms, as well as a safe return to offices to enable suburban and regional firms to reopen to clients.
“Many of our lawyers have reported that their clients are often elderly or were not tech-savvy as corporate clients are with many files and associated documents, such as with wills,” Mr Pandya said, adding that these clients often prefer “paper forms”.
The legal profession has welcomed the return to office and hopes to return to its usual practices of managing mental health or wellbeing concerns, allowing the staff to have engagement with colleagues and ensuring staff has access to appropriate workplaces.
“This is a sensible step in the move towards COVID-normal and we thank the Andrews government for its consultation with our profession and listening to our advice and our concerns,” Mr Pandya said.
